Weavers explore direct market option

For the first time in Telangana, the women handloom weavers are given an opportunity to involve in direct market sale while avoiding the role of the middlemen.Creative Bee, which is into natural-handwoven textile &fashion, has introducedwomen weavers hailing from Pochampalli and Koyalagudem to the entrepreneurial world and has given training on techniques to sell their work directly to the customers, under Disha, a project held in collaboration with the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) and supported by IKEA Foundation. It is a key to change, to empower women and eventually improve their livelihood.

Many women are expecting more such chances to gain exposure of the real market that helps them to draw better profits. “I have been into weaving sarees form the past 10 years. We feel this is a great opportunity for women like us that helps us to earn the full amount of sale instead of receiving mere amounts after the middlemen and the retailer makes huge profits,” saysSaraswati, Koyalagudem.

Another weaver, Lavanya, shares, “We are always neglected and do not receive money immediately after the sale to the retailers or the middlemen. They usually pay us after a week or, so, which hinders us to meet our daily needs.”

Speaking to The Hans India, Bina Rao, director, Creative Bee, says, “It is a pilot project that involves nearly 2000 women undergoing training on how to go about with the direct sale of products. The initiation has attracted many designers showing interest to give orders to them and many companies are approaching us to support these women weavers underCorporate social responsibility activity.And I think any positive response is a great fillip to do better.”